IR Cooling

[Eagle7907]

Just wondering what’s that switch for? I can’t find any hard data as to when that switch should be switched to NORM. I would imagine it would need to be in NORM for IR cooling to function. Hence the question. Only place I see it mentioned is preflight checks. Mover? Lex? Care to elaborate?

 

 

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[aaron886]

Not to be a jerk, but this came up as the first result in a Google search for "f/a-18 ir cooling switch." If it only takes that long to post, it probably wasn't worth pressing submit yet. Also, those guys don't browse this forum looking to answer questions.

 

Search "ir cool." Not implemented in DCS in any aircraft yet to my knowledge.

http://navybmr.com/study%20material/14313a/14313A_ch15.pdf

[Eagle7907]

Thanks, I guess.

 

 

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[backspace340]

What isn't clear is if there's a benefit to using NORM over OFF. With OFF, the missiles are still cooled if you're in the air, master arm on, and the AIM-9s are selected. I don't know if that's sufficient for maximum performance or if they need to be cooled for a certain amount of time before the seeker head is in an optimal state. It hasn't been mentioned as part of any official start-up checklists, videos or training missions from what I can see.

[Eagle7907]

IR Cooling

 

What isn't clear is if there's a benefit to using NORM over OFF. With OFF, the missiles are still cooled if you're in the air, master arm on, and the AIM-9s are selected. I don't know if that's sufficient for maximum performance or if they need to be cooled for a certain amount of time before the seeker head is in an optimal state. It hasn't been mentioned as part of any official start-up checklists, videos or training missions from what I can see.

 

 

 

That’s exactly what I am looking for. Is there a benefit/example as to when you would use it. But also wasn’t sure if it’s tied to all IR seekers (IR mavs, T-pods, etc) which it isn’t.

 

 

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Edited November 27, 2018 by Eagle7907

[CypherS]

The aim-9x has its own internal cooling system and does not need nitrogen from the rails.

 

I wonder if that switch is used for the 9x

[Drotik]

The aim-9x has its own internal cooling system

 

Do you know by any chance how that works?

[Wags]

It's just a manual means of enabling seeker cooling. With this automatically done when an AIM-9 is selected, this switch has very little if any practical use in the game.

[Eagle7907]

IR Cooling

 

Wags, thanks for the response, but then what instance would we use it? If the automatic means faulted? Is that even simulated yet? Will it in the future?

 

My curiosity is running full steam on the switch that never gets switched. ;)

 

Also, if it is meant to be a redundant way to activate cooling, why isn’t it labeled or indicated as such? Seems weird that everything that is used for backup redundancy has yellow hashes or some sort of “don’t use this unless you mean it” labeling protections.

 

Just a thought.

 

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Edited November 27, 2018 by Eagle7907

[Frederf]

Do you know by any chance how that works?

electric, Peltier

[Alphamale]

It's just a manual means of enabling seeker cooling. With this automatically done when an AIM-9 is selected, this switch has very little if any practical use in the game.

 

Correct me here if I'm wrong but I thought the 3 min used to prepare the IR MAVs for launching is really cooling down the IR seekers on the MAVs,,,If that's correct, couldn't this switch facilitate that process quicker?

[AG-51_Razor]

Does that switch have any application to the IR Mavs?

[Wags]

The switch has nothing to do with IR Maverick, only AIM-9.

[AG-51_Razor]

Thanks for the quick reply Wags :thumbup:

[Robin_Hood]

Wags, thanks for the response, but then what instance would we use it? If the automatic means faulted? Is that even simulated yet? Will it in the future?

 

My curiosity is running full steam on the switch that never gets switched. ;)

 

Also, if it is meant to be a redundant way to activate cooling, why isn’t it labeled or indicated as such? Seems weird that everything that is used for backup redundancy has yellow hashes or some sort of “don’t use this unless you mean it” labeling protections.

 

Just a thought.

 

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There are several backup switches that are not marked as emergency switches. For example, Pitot heat: ON is used in case of malfunction (and on the ground for testing). Other similar switches are EXT TANK (NORM/ORIDE), BATT (NORM/ORIDE); I'm sure there are several others. There is also AV COOL, that opens up a scoop to cool the FCC with ram air, which is not yellow-and-black even though the scoop can only be closed manually on the ground.

 

So, not a unique case. Forcing something that should work automatically doesn't always warrant an emergency switch.

[QuiGon]

It's just a manual means of enabling seeker cooling. With this automatically done when an AIM-9 is selected, this switch has very little if any practical use in the game.

How long does it take untill maximum cooldown is achieved, once the missile has been selected? Because I developed the habit to use the cooldown switch to manually cool the AIM-9 seeker when bandits are to be expected in order to have them cooled down if I get suprised by pop up contacts.

[Eagle7907]

There are several backup switches that are not marked as emergency switches. For example, Pitot heat: ON is used in case of malfunction (and on the ground for testing). Other similar switches are EXT TANK (NORM/ORIDE), BATT (NORM/ORIDE); I'm sure there are several others. There is also AV COOL, that opens up a scoop to cool the FCC with ram air, which is not yellow-and-black even though the scoop can only be closed manually on the ground.

 

So, not a unique case. Forcing something that should work automatically doesn't always warrant an emergency switch.

 

 

 

That’s true. Good point.

 

 

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[Drotik]

electric, Peltier

 

Cool... thank you!

[dondiablo]

you have discussed the "OFF" and "Normal".

But what does the ORIDE do?

[coldViPer]

you have discussed the "OFF" and "Normal".

But what does the ORIDE do?

 

Well it's explained quite well in post #2 link:

 

"The NORM position applies coolant to all seeker heads when

weight is off wheels. The ORIDE position applies coolant to all seeker heads when

power is applied to the aircraft"

 

So I think ORIDE is meant to be used only for maintenance/test purposes.